Air conditioning apparatus



Sept. 6, 198.. R. H. ANDEREGG 2,128,890

l AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 14, '1936 s sheets-sheet 1 ATTORNEY- Sept. 6, 1938.-

R. AH. ANDERx-:GG

AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed uw. 14, 193e 5 sheets-sheet 2 INVENToR BY ATTORNEY Sept 6; 1938= R. H. ADEREQG E 27d/28.890

AIR CONDITIQNING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 14, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 i BY Z252 ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 6, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT IOFFICE AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Ruben H. Anderegg, La Crosse, Wis., assigner, by

direct and mesne assignments, of one-half to The Trane, Company, La Crosse, Wis.,`and onel half to Waukesha Motor Company.Waukesha,vv

Wis.

I Application December 14, 1936, Serial No. 115,780 i 14 Claims.

'I'he present invention relates generally to apparatus for use in conditioning or cooling air.4

More particularlythe invention relatesv to that `type of apparatus which is used on a vehicle such as a railway passenger car, and comprises a comorative condenser because it is lighter, requires practically no servicing, and is not affected by freezing atmospheric conditions or temperatures such, for example, as may be encountered when the'vehicle .with which the apparatus is associated travels over mountains. In practice it has been found tliat lan air cooled condenser, although it embodies the aforementioned advantages and is sufliciently efficient vfor practical operating purposes at normal temperatures, that is, temperatures less than 100 F., is not eilicient at temperatures in excess of 100 F. like, for example, those that are encountered during the hot summer season or in desert areas, and also that in such excess temperatures the capacityof the apparatus drops materially.

One object of, the invention is to provide a ref rigerating apparatusv of the aforementioned type which is more eiilcient and practical than previously designed apparatus of the same general character by reason of the fact that it includes in addition to the air cooled condenser in the high pressure refrigerant line, a small self-4 contained evaporative .condenser which may be brought into play during the summer months or when excess temperatures are encountered and' a refrigerating apparatus of the last mentioned character in which the evaporative condenser is vcontrolled automatically so that it operates only (Cl. (i2-6) Another object of my invention is an improve-v ment in extracting heat from the condenser side of a heat cycle to reduce the load on the compressor.

Another object of my invention is to secure bet- IIl ter control in cooling the refrigerant or refrigerating liquid after it leaves the compressor.

Another object of my invention is to secure economy in cost of operation and installation of the apparatus designed for cooling therefrigervl0 ant. n. Another object of my invention is to make said apparatus lighter and less expensive than apparatus formerly used for cooling the refrigerant.

The foregoing and many other specific features 15 of my invention are set forth inthe following specication, where I describe what I-'consider the preferred embodiments of my invention.

These are illustrated in the accompanying draw- 2 ings where; y

Figure 1 is a longitudinal cross section of aportion of a railway car showing diagrammatically the arrangement of the air conditioning equipment.`

Figure 2 vis a cross section of the apparatus 25 designed to compress and cool the refrigerant or refrigerating liquid.

Figure 3 is a vertical elevation ofthe apparatus shown in Figure 2, partly in section.

Figure 4 is a cross section similar to Figure 2,.,30

designed to show a modified form of my invention.

Referring to Figures l'to 4, inclusive, 20 is a duct system for conveying conditioning air to outlets 2| into the car compartment 22 to be cooled. ,35

The cooling coils 25 are mounted in the top of the. car and are connected with a source of cold or cooling cycle by means of the pipes 28 and 21.

3|, supported from the bottom 32 of the car. 24 is the liquid line from the compressor 30 to the cooling coil |0|, which is constructed with a serpentine coil and ns mounted thereon. This coil is cooled by air propelled by the fan |02, operated K by the motor |03. From the coil |0| the liquid passes through Athe line |04 to a second coil 34, contained in the compartment 35, which is a con-v ventional fin and tube type coil comprising tubes 52 and ns 53.

, The heat exchange tube and fins are protected from injuryby the supporting Lcasings 54 and 55. Sprays 60 are in communication with the water pump 8| through the 1ine59. A water pump is d1- rect connected to and operated by themotor B3, y55

28 is a filter interposed in the air inlet 29. 30 is a compressor mounted in the compartment 40 and also, by means of the belt 64 and pulleys 65 and 66, rotates the shaft on which is mounted the fan 61- The suction inlet 69 above the water line in the compartment draws the air through the inlet 49, past the sprays 60, through the coil 34; then through the fan housing 10; thence downward through a duct 1| leading downward through the compartment 35 to the outlet 12, so that air is discharged toward the road-bed. The air outlet is protected by a screen 13 preventing the entrance of foreign material.

62 represents a water supply pipe connected to the pump 6| and to the bottom of the compartment 35, which is water-tight and is iilled with water to a pre-determined level. The motor 63 which controls the operation of the pump 6| and the fan 61 is operated by electricity through the lines |08, |01 and |06.

Interposed in the electric line |01 is a pressure switch |05 responsive to the pressure in the liquid line |04. This switch upon reaching a predetermined pressure will close and complete Iche circuit in lines |06 and |01, causing the motor 63 to operate. The lines |06 and |01 are also connected by the lines I l l and |2 with a thermostat interposed therein, responsive to outside air so that upon the air reaching a predetermined temperature the switch ||0 will close, causing .the motor 63 to operate. Thus, the operation of the motor 63 is dependent both on the outside air and on the pressure in the liquid return from the compressor.

It may be thus observed that while the fan |02 will operate generally while the whole apparatus is in service and the compressor not running (the connections therefor not shown), that the auxiliary cooler will be only put into service when either the pressure in the return line. calls for lower pressures or by the outside air temperature rising. In the latter case the cooling effect of the outside air over the cooling coil |0| is decreased bythe reduction of difference of temperature between the outside air and the liquid inthe coil IDI, and it becomes necessary to put into service the auxiliary sub-cooler. Thus, the auxiliary cooler may be smaller and of less weight than the type of cooler which consists entirely of wetted surface and apparatus necessary to produce that wetted surface.

A modified form of my invention is shown 'in' Figure 4 in which the liquid passes from the compressor 30 through the line 14 to the cooling coil |0| in supporting casing 15, which coil is similar to the cooling coil |0| in Figure 2. From the cooling coil |0|' the liquid is passed through the pipes 16 to the cooling coil 34 and thence hack to the evaporator through the'pipe 21. The air passing over the coil 34 is moistened by means of sprays 60, which spray water into the air in adlvance of the coils and also upon the coils, producing a wetted surface of the fins. The pump 6| is operated by the motor 11 and the fan 61 is operated by the motor 16. In the apparatus shown in Figure 4 the air is drawn .by the fan 61 over the coil 34, which is wetted, and thence over the coil IM', which is dry. j

Thus, at times during the operation of this apparatus the air emitting from the coil 34 will be cooler than outside'air and sumciently cool to pre-cool the liquid passing through the coil |0|"; and after the liquid is cooled in the coil |0|', it goes to the coil 34 and further cooled down by the wetted fin surface.

Under both the constructions shown in Figure amount.

2 and Figure 4, the total weight of the apparatus needed to cool the liquid is considerably reduced over an apparatus having a coil only wetted by water due to the fact that additional storage space is required for water and an additional amount of water is required to be used, and the :'whole apparatus required is lighter than is required with an apparatus using only water.

When the temperature outside is low, the apparatus is designed to shut oi the sprays so that all of the air passes coils 34 and coils |0| as dry coils, and the apparatus is also designed so that when the outside temperature rises above a predeterminedlpoint that the motor 11 will start, causing the sprays to wet the coil 34, which is necessary when the outside temperatures go above 95 deg. F. The motor 11 is connected to a source of power through two electric lines 19 and 80, and in the line 19 there isia thermostat 8| responsive to the outdoor temperature. This thermostat could also be made responsive to the indoor temperature or responsive to the pressure of the gas in the line 14 and secure the same results.

While I have described the foregoing preferred embodiments of my invention, I contemplate that many changes may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. In an air conditioning apparatus, the combination of a heat exchange cycle with the evaporator side of said cycle situated within a compartment to condition the air therein, a comp'ressor in said cycle delivering gas under pressure to the condenser side of said cycle, separate cooling coils interposed in said condenser side to cool said gas, means to cool one of said coils with untreated air, a second means to cool the other of said coils with treated air, means to put said second means into operation upon the pressure in said condenser side reaching a pre-determined amount.

2. In an air conditioning apparatus, the combination of a heat exchange cycle with the evaporator side of said cycle situated within' a compartment to condition the air therein, a compressor in said cycle delivering gas under pressure to the condenser side of said cycle, separate cooling coils interposed in said condenser side to cool 'said gas, means to cool one of said coils with untreated air, a second means to cool the other of said coils with treated air, means to put second means into operation when the' temperature of said untreated air reaches a pre-determined 3. In an air conditioning apparatus, the combination of a heat exchange cycle with the evaporator side of said cycle situated within a compartment to condition the air therein, a compressor in said cycle delivering gas under pressure to the condenser side of said cycle, separate cooling coils interposed in said condenser side to' cool said gas, means to cool one of said coils with untreated air, a second means to cool the other of said coils with treated air, said second means comprising a fan and passing an air stream over .orator side of said cycle situated within a com'- partment to condition the air therein, a compressor vin said cycle delivering gas under pressure to the condenser side of said cycle,.separate cooling coils interposed in said condenser side to cool said gas, means to cool one of said coils with untreated air, asecond means to cool the lother of ysaid coils with treated air, said second means comprising a fan and passing an air stream over said coils, Water sprays in the path of said air stream, a conduit with a'water pump interposed therein between said sprays and a source of water supply, power means to operate said pump and fan responsive to temperature of outside untreated air.

5. In an air conditioning apparatus, the combination of a heat exchange cycle with the evaporator side of said cycle situated within a compartment to condition the air therein, a compressor in sai-d cycle delivering gas under pressure tothe condenserside of said cycle, separate cool' ing coils interposed in said condenser side to the last named means into operation when the pressure in said condenser side reaches a predetermined amount. i

6. In an air conditioning apparatus, the combination of a heat exchange cycle with the evapv orator side of said cycle situated within a compartment to condition the air therein, a compressor in said cycle delivering gas under pressureto the condenser side of said cycle, separate cooling coils interposed in said condenser side to cool said gas, means to cool one of said coils with untreated air, a second means to cool the other of said coils with treated'air, a thermostat r'esponsive to outside air temperature adapted to put the last named means into operation when said temperature reaches a pre-'determined cool said gas, means to cool one of said coilsv with untreated air, a second means to cool the other of said coils with treated air, and means to control the operation of the last named means responsive to said untreated air andthe pressure within said condenser side. 1

8. In a refrigerating'apparatus comprising a refrigerant compressor, an evaporator with an expansion valve atthe inlet side thereof, and high and low pressure refrigerant lines leading from the compressor to the valve and from the evaporator to the compressor respectively, the

lcombination of an air cooled condenser in the high pressure line for condensing the refrigerant compressed by the compressor, an evaporative condenser in said high pressure line for assisting the air cooled condenser in condensingsaid refrigerant, and means whereby the evaporative condenser is rendered operative when atmospheric and load conditions are such that the condensing capacity of the air cooled condenser is insumcient for efficient operation of the apparatus and is rendered inoperative when atmospheric and load conditions are such that the condensing capacity of said air cooled condenser is suiilcient for eiiicient operation of the apparatus.

9. In a refrigerating apparatus comprising a refrigerant compressor, .an evaporator with an expansion valve at the inlet side thereof, and high and low pressure refrigerant lines leading from the compressor to the valve andfrom the evaporatorto the compressor respectively, the combination of an air cooled condenser in the high pressure line forv condensing the refrigerant compressed by the compressor, an evaporative condenser in saidhigh pressure line for assisting the airy cooled condenser in condensing said refrigerant, and means operative in response to changes in the pressure of the refrigerant in said high pressure line for ,controlling the operation of said evaporative condenser.

10. In a refrigerating apparatus comprising a refrigerant compressor, an evaporator with an expansion valve at the inlet side thereof, and high and low pressure refrigerant lines leading from the `compressor to the valve and from the evaporator to thecompressor respectively, the combination of an air cooled condenser in the high pressure line for condensing the refrigerant compressed by the compressor, an evaporative condenser in said high pressure line adapted to cool the condensed refrigerant and including a water pump and an electric motor for driving the pump, and control means for the evaporative condenser `consisting of a switch for the electric motor and a device for closing the switch when atmospheric and load conditions are such that the air condensing Acapacity of the air cooled condenser is insufficient for eflicient operation ofthe apparatus and for opening the switch and rendering the evaporative cndenser inoperative when atmospheric and load conditions are such that the condensing capacity of the air cooled condenser is suiiicient for emclent operation of the appaj ratus.

11. In a refrigerating apparatus comprising a refrigerant compressor, an evaporator with an expansion valve at the inlet side thereof, and

high and low pressure refrigerant lines leading l from the compressor to the valve and from the evaporator to the compressor respectively, the

combination of an `air cooled condenser in the high pressure line for condensing the refrigerant compressed by the compressor, an evaporative condenser in said high pressure line adapted to assist the air cooled condenser in condensing said refrigerant and including a water pump and an electric motor for driving the pump, and control means for the evaporative condenser consisting of a switch for the motor and a device forclosing 'the switch and rendering said evaporative condenser operative when the pressure of the refrigerant in the high pressure line reaches a predetermined point and opening said switch and -bination of an air-cooled coil type condenser in the high pressure line for condensing therefrig- 'erant compressed by the compressor, fanl means for circulating air around `the coils of the air cooled condenser,V a self-containedA evaporative condenser in said high pressure line independent of,and positioned in spaced relation with respect to, said air cooled coil type condenser and adapted when operative to assist said last mentioned condenser in condensing the refrigerant and including a water pump, a' blower, and an electric motor for driving the pump and blower, and control means for the evaporative condenser including a switch for said electric motor.

13. In a refrigerating apparatus comprising a refrigerant compressor, an evaporator with an expansion valve at the inlet side thereof, and high and low refrigerant lines leading from the compressor to the valve and from the evaporator to the compressor respectively, the combination of an air cooled condenser in the high pressure line for condensing the refrigerant compressed by the compressor, an independent self-contained evaporative condenser in said high pressure line adapted to be operated when high atmospheric andload conditions are encountered and of such` capacity that when operating. under such conditions it coacts with the air cooled condenser to provide suilicient condensing capacity for efllcient operation of the apparatus, and means i'or controlling said evaporative condenser so as to render it operative or inoperative.

14. In combination with a wheeled vehicle having a body with a space therein, a refrigerating apparatus for conditioning the air in said space.

part of the high pressure line and mounted beneath the bottom of the vehicle and adjacent to the compressor, a self-contained exaporative condenser in the high pressure line and independent of the air cooled condenser, mounted beneath said bottom of the vehicle body and in spaced relation with respect to said air cooled refrigerant condenser and adapted when operative to assist the latter condenser in condensing the refrigerant, and means for controlling the. operation of said evaporative condenser.

RUBEN H. ANDEREGG. 

